MoDOT to Close Lanes on Interstate 55 Overnight, Weekends for Bridge Rehab

Lane Closures Start March 16, Will Continue Through 2018

ST. LOUIS – Drivers who travel on I-55 through Jefferson County need to be aware of some major traffic impacts starting later this week and lasting through much of 2017 and 2018.

Crews will close one lane of northbound I-55 at Route Z on Thursday, March 16 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. The lanes will close again on Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m. through Monday, March 20 at 5 a.m.

During the weekend lane closures, the exit from northbound I-55 to Route Z will also be closed. Drivers can detour around the exit closure by taking northbound I-55 to Route M to southbound I-55 and back to Route Z.

This is the first in a series of overnight and weekend lane closures that are necessary so crews can rehab 21 bridges over I-55 from Route Z near Pevely to Plattin Creek just south of Crystal City (approximately 8 miles). In addition, I-55 from Route Z to the Ste. Genevieve County line (approximately 16 miles) will be resurfaced and guardrail and sign improvements will be made.

MoDOT will use the zipper merge technique whenever there are lane closures. Research shows merging dangers decrease and traffic moves more smoothly when motorists use both lanes until reaching the defined merge area and then alternate merging every other vehicle in "zipper" fashion into the open lane. Motorists should watch for signs instructing motorists to resist the urge to merge and do the “zipper” merge where the lane closure occurs.